Fives and Threes dominoes online
Fives and Threes (5s and 3s) is the classic dominoes game of British pubs and clubs. Every time you place a domino, you add up the two open ends of the line. If the total divides by 5, by 3, or by both, you score at once. Play it online against live opponents, not bots.
At a glance
- 2 to 4 playersone against one, pairs of two against two, or three or four on their own
- 28 dominoesthe standard double-six set
- No boneyardnobody draws; the dominoes left over stay face down
- Pairs sit oppositepartners share one score
- Exactly 61the game ends when a side reaches 61 on the nose
- Clockwiseplay passes to the left
The heart of the game: fives and threes
After every move, add up the two ends of the line. A double standing across the line counts with both halves. Then score:
- if the total divides by 3, you score the number of threes in it: 3 gives 1 point, 6 gives 2, 9 gives 3, 12 gives 4, 18 gives 6;
- if the total divides by 5, you score the number of fives in it: 5 gives 1 point, 10 gives 2, 20 gives 4;
- 15 divides by both: three 5s plus five 3s, that is 8 points, the best score in the game.
Any other total, such as 4, 7, 8 or 11, scores nothing. Every tile you play is a small decision: take the points now, or leave the ends so your opponent cannot.
How it is played, in short
- Deal. Each player gets 9 dominoes in a one-against-one game, 5 with three players, 6 with four. The rest stay face down and are never used.
- The down. The first player puts down any domino. This is called the "down" (or "drop"), and it scores as usual.
- Play. In turn, clockwise, you add a domino to either end of the line, matching the spots.
- Score. After each domino, add up the two ends and score the fives and threes.
- Knock. If you have no domino that fits, you knock and pass.
- End of the hand. A player (in pairs, both partners) plays all their dominoes, or nobody can move: the hand is over. The next hand starts with the next player clockwise.
- Game. The first side to reach exactly 61 wins. Go over, and those points simply do not count.
The complete rules, with scoring tables and worked examples, are on the Fives and Threes rules page.
How we play on PlayElephant
Default table settings, close to the rules most pub leagues use:
| Setting | Default |
|---|---|
| Players | 2, 3 or 4. With four, two pairs sit opposite each other |
| Dominoes per hand | 9 (two players), 5 (three), 6 (four) |
| Drawing from a boneyard | No |
| Target | Exactly 61 points |
| Going over 61 | The points of that move do not count |
| Winning with your down | Not allowed: the winning points cannot be scored on the first domino of a hand |
| Bonus for going out, bonus at a block | None. Only dominoes played score |
| Pairs: end of the hand | When both partners of one pair have played all their dominoes |
| Who goes first | Chosen by chance for the first hand, then clockwise |
| Scoring | Automatic |
- Live opponents, not bots. And in pairs, a live partner. If a player leaves, a bot may take the seat, and it is always clearly marked as a bot.
- The server checks every move. You cannot play a domino that does not fit, and you cannot knock when you have a move. Knocks are made for you.
- Points are counted for you. No mistakes with the peg, no arguments about the total.
- Pairs rating, pairs tournaments and clubs for those who like to play as a partnership.
Fair play
Every hand is a fair shuffle with all layouts equally likely, and the shuffle can be checked afterwards. Nobody gets help with the dominoes. After the hand, everyone's remaining dominoes are turned face up.